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State of The Kingsmen


By adminkac - Posted on 26 February 2010

September 23, 2008

 

Dear, Kingsmen Alumni, supporters and friends;

 

I know there is a lot of buzz out there right now regarding what the Kingsmen organization is up to right now. I will briefly summarize the current status of the organization. The Kingsmen organization is incorporated as, Kingsmen StarCorps, Inc. This is the umbrella corporation that all Kingsmen performing groups operate under. We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational organization incorporated to do business in the state of California.

 

The current board of directors has been very busy for the last 6-8 months re-organizing and planning the future of the organization. We needed to step back, take a breath and regain our focus after the alumni corps project that concluded in January 2008 after the Disneyland performance. As you are all aware, the two year alumni corps project was a massive undertaking. Thousands of hours and dollars were spent by many, many, dedicated hard working folks. Those who marched in the alumni corps and were not directly involved with the day to day operations, I don’t think fully understand what kind of behind the scenes effort took place. As the Executive Director during the alumni corps project I can tell you without the effort of these people behind the scenes we would have had a much harder uphill battle. Thanks to these folks, we put on a performance at the Rose Bowl August 10, 2007 that will not soon be forgotten by the members and drum corps fans alike. Remember it, cherish it, recall the friendships, and re-kindled friendships that took place. I for one will always remember that August 10 th night at the Rose Bowl. The Alumni Corps was nothing short of awesome. I know we had our share of disagreements, mistakes and negative things take place. I hope we all learned from them and can move on with the organization in a positive manner and not repeat the mistakes of the past.

 

State of the organization:

 

After serving the organization for well over three years as the Executive Director I had to step down in October 200 7 . There are many rumors out there as to why and I’ll tell you it was due to personal illness and serious illness and death in my family. I decided to come back into the organization in early September and the board of directors appointed me the Executive Director of Kingsmen StarCorps, Inc. on September 8, 2008. Since then we have been moving in a very positive direction. I will be overseeing all performing units and working directly with unit directors to make sure these units are successful. Before my return, the board of directors had been very active in the organization of the Kingsmen Jr. Corps. Dr. Tim Benge was hired as the Jr. Corps director and has worked very hard planning, organizing and picking a staff that will put us in the thick of modern day drum corps. Working with Tim has been a pleasure and we are very blessed to have his professional expertise. As I’m sure you all know, Tim is currently the director of bands at Edison High School in Huntington Beach . The time he is willing to spend with the Kingsmen organization is nothing short of amazing, at the same time running his own High School band program. I for one look forward to the continued positive influence Tim has brought to us thus far.

 

The plans for the Jr. Corps (Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps) are three fold. We want to have a competitive color guard and percussion ensemble to compete in the indoor circuits 2009 season. The color guard auditions have been set and percussion auditions will follow. We just made our first major purchase of front ensemble percussion instruments and color guard equipment. This takes us into 2009. Plans are to continue to fund raise to enable us to purchase Brass instruments and field a 70-80 member Open Class corps for the 2010 season. As I’m sure you are all aware, today’s drum corps require a massive amount of financing. Even the smaller open class corps are struggling to keep their heads above water. It’s a challenge the board has taken head on and together with all the Kingsmen family we can make this a reality! We need all your support, not just financially but in many other operations areas as well. We have two Raffles planned this year as well as a capital campaign directed at alumni, friends, family and supporters. Today’s drum corps is tuition based but the money the students pay to be a part of a corps barely covers half the cost. Long term continued fund raising is a must each and every year!!

 

Now on to the adult performing units. Due to the interest shown by many alumni corps members, the Kingsmen will have two adult performing units. I personally have come to the conclusion that continuing adult music education is very important and to have Kingsmen adult performing units is very important as well. No group has ever tried what we are attempting with adult units and a Jr. unit under the same umbrella. Well, who said the Kingsmen ever did things the easy way. J I think it will be awesome to someday have an adult unit perform with a youth group. What an experience for all!

 

A proposal was submitted by Mr. Peter Baird to board of directors and approved just early last week. There will be a Kingsmen Alumni Corps (KAC) with two arms I call them. One will be a Sr. (age 22 and up) competitive unit that will go through DCI evaluation and compete as an all age corps at local Southern California shows as well as try and do a couple of the Northern California shows in 2009. This unit as well as all units will continue to evolve in the next couple years. Meaning, we just need to see the amount of interest we generate and how things go with recruiting new adult members. We will be in a constant state of change. I have appointed Peter as the Senior Corps Director and he is currently working very hard on all organizational aspects of this adult unit.

 

The second adult unit will be a true Kingsmen Alumni Corps. Just like the first alumni corps, this unit will be made up of Kingsmen Alumni, family and guests. This unit will be a much more casual, social unit that hopefully can have at least several performance opportunities each y ear. There may be some that want to perform in both the Kingsmen Senior Corps and the Kingsmen Alumni corps. That will all be up to each member as to how much time they want to put in. The opportunity is there to be involved with both units if they so desire. This performing unit will be run by committee (4-6 people) and Kari Kent has offered to head up this committee. This unit will also have a Director that I’m currently looking for and will also be a member of the committee and handle the musical performance preparation. If you are interested in serving on the Alumni Corps committee please contact Kari or myself. If you are interested in or know someone that is interested in the Kingsmen Alumni Corps Director position please contact me ASAP. Now’s the time to step up, It’s your Alumni Corps!

 

Peter and I attended the DCI Pacific meeting this past weekend where I presented our plan which was very well received. Everyone in this activity wants to see a Kingsmen organization healthy.

 

Just one thing I want to touch on and I’ll shut up. I know how everyone out there loves the forums on the web sites. Please continue to use and enjoy these forums to connect and network with each other. The one thing that disturbs me about the forums is that, there is a whole lot of information that is put on the forums that is simply just not factual. If you have a question or concern, please contact me via email with your phone number and I’d be glad to call you to answer your questions, concerns or desires. Please do not post things that you just do not have the facts on. The forums can be a major positive asset for the Kingsmen organization. Not a place where members or the public read things that simply are not true.

 

The two official web sites of the Kingsmen organization are:

xKingsmen.com (Kingsmen Alumni Corps)

Kingsmenstarcorps.org (Kingsmen Jr. Corps.)

 

Both web sites are owned and controlled by the corporation now and both are going to be going through major changes in the coming months. We are currently looking for permanent webmasters for both sites.

 

Three things to remember: Keep things simple, keep things fun and keep things positive.

 

I for one am looking forward to working in a positive way with everyone in the Kingsmen family to make these units the class of the Drum Corps world. I can be contacted at: kingsmen@ kingsmenstarcorps.org.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

There is lot’s to do for all!!

Good notes to all!!!

 

SPECTEMUR AGENDO.

 

Jim Whobrey

Executive Director

Kingsmen StarCorps, Inc.

 

The Kingsmen Organization Structure

Kingsmen StarCorps, Inc. (Parent Corporation Umbrella)

The Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps (Junior Corps)

The Kingsmen Senior Drum and Bugle Corps (Age 22 & up)

The Kingsmen Alumni Corps (KAC) (Alumni, guests & family)